Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)
13.3Km 2024-11-28
99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444
Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.
The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.
As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.
The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.
Gwanak Kang Gam-chan Festival (관악강감찬축제)
13.3Km 2025-01-08
77 Nakseongdae-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul
+82-2-828-5765
The Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival is a historical and cultural event held to honor the patriotic spirit of General Gang Gam-chan, a famous general from the Goryeo Dynasty. The festival is known for its impressive night events, fitting for the location named after a falling star, and features a variety of parades and performances.
◎ Gang Gam-chan and Nakseongdae
General Gang Gam-chan of Goryeo is said to have been born at the place where the fourth star of the Big Dipper fell. This place is called Nakseongdae, which means “the place where the star fell.”
Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)
13.3Km 2022-08-11
15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120
Jeongdong Observatory is located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building. The observatory has a cafe inside where visitors can enjoy a drink while gazing upon the magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace from above. In addition, the walls of the cafe are decorated with photos of old Jeongdong.
Bukchon-ri Dullegol (북촌리둘레골)
13.3Km 2021-03-19
44 Insadong 14-gil Jongno-gu Seoul
+82-2-747-9700
A restaurant with Korean traditional house-themed interior design. The representative menu is Korean table d''hote. This is a Korean cuisine located in Insa-dong, Seoul.
Dakgopsae (닭곱새)
13.3Km 2021-03-19
7, Jong-ro 5gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6226-8220
This Korean cuisine is located near Jonggak Station, Seoul. The representative menu is chicken, beef small intestine and shrimp hot pot. A restaurant where chicken, intestine, and shrimp are fried and served with spicy sauce.
Hangukgwan (한국관)
13.3Km 2021-03-18
40, Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-764-6953
A great restaurant for group dinners. The best menu at this restaurant is Grilled Beef Ribs. This is a Korean cuisine located in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
New Seoul Hotel (뉴서울호텔)
13.3Km 2021-05-11
16, Sejong-daero 22-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-8800
New Seoul Hotel is conveniently located in central Seoul near City Hall, providing guests with easy access to shopping, sightseeing, and more. The guestrooms are outfitted with modern amenities for a comfortable stay, and the hotel has several dining, entertainment and convenience facilities such as a business center, a souvenir shop and men's sauna.
PRAUM Musical Instrument Museum (프라움악기박물관)
13.3Km 2024-02-21
756 Gyeonggang-ro, Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
PRAUM Musical Instrument Museum is designed in a European style, featuring high arches and balconies. It showcases the history of music and displays various musical instruments from around the world. Visitors have the unique opportunity to play some of these instruments and listen to their sounds. Additionally, the museum hosts regular musical concerts every Wednesday.
Seoul Hyochang Park (서울 효창공원)
13.3Km 2024-07-09
177-18 Hyochangwon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2199-7608
Hyochang Park covers 122,245 square meters spanning across Hyochang-dong and Cheongpa 2-dong. It is a historic landmark that once contained several royal tombs, and was known at that time as Hyochangwon. The cemeteries that were originally located in Hyochangwon belonged to Crown Prince Munhyo, King Jeongjo’s first son who died at the age of five; Royal Noble Consort Uibin of the Seong Clan, King Jeongjo’s royal concubine and Crown Prince Munhyo’s mother; Royal Noble Consort Sugui of the Park Clan, King Sunjo’s royal concubine; and her daughter Princess Yeongon. The royal tombs were moved to Seooreung Tombs in the waning months of the Japanese colonial period. The Japanese empire began the development of Hyochangwon into a park in 1924, and the Japanese governor-general officially assigned the site as a park in 1940.
Presently, several of Korea’s greatest leaders are buried in Hyochang Park. The remains mostly belong to independence activists including Yoon Bong-gil, Lee Bong-chang, and Baek Jeong-gi, whose graves are collectively known as Samuisa Tomb. A statue of Lee Bong-chang has been built in the graveyard. Among the other patriotic martyrs who are interred in the park are Kim Gu and some of the key figures of the provisional government such as Lee Dong-nyeong, Cha I-seok, and Cho Seong-hwan. An ancestral shrine named Uiyeolsa has been built along the main gate and holds the portraits of the deceased independence activists.
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